Young mum makes her dream wedding before losing cancer battle

A young mother’s dream of marrying her partner before she lost her battle to cancer came true just more than a week prior to her death.

Katie Wilkinson, 26, also managed to hold on in time to see her son Ethan celebrate his fourth birthday before she died at Pinderfields hospital on Sunday.

Her family has set up a fund to help Katie’s husband Danny cope with the aftermath of her death, the funeral arrangements – and to buy Ethan a gift on his mum’s behalf for when he turns 18.

Katie’s sister Karen Davies said: “If you knew Katie even for half an hour you would have loved her. She brought a smile to everyone’s face. She was so comical and loving.Ethan adored his mum and she adored him. He was her shadow – wherever Katie went Ethan was close behind her.”

Hairdresser Katie, of Dewsbury, fell ill in January and was later told that she had stage four Burkitt lymphoma. Within 12 hours of diagnosis she was put into an induced coma. Two months later she had to learn to talk, walk and eat again.

After gruelling bouts of chemotherapy she was given the all clear on June 15.

But two weeks later she discovered the lymphoma was back.

On September 2 she was told there was no more treatment available. Her wedding with Danny took place at Dimple Well Lodge in Ossett a week after and Ethan turned four days later.

Katie is also survived by Karen, mum Susan Gellen and her aunt and uncle Carol and Pete Ward.